Connection for culverts



H. K. SWENEY.

CONNECTION FOR CULVERTS.

AAAAAAAAA ONAFILED MAR.24. I92].

1 ,408,485. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

' claimed in 1197966. v The invention hasfor an object to provide" umrao STATESFPATENT oFFIcE,

nanny KSWENEY, or ALCOVA, wvormve,

OQNNECTION F633. CULVER'IS.

Specification of Letters Eatcnt.

Patented'lliar. 7, 1922.

Application filed March 2 m, 1921. Serial No. 455,345.;

and-the like, having particular"referenceto thatform' of'culvert'such as describe'd and my United States Patent No.

a simplebut effectual-{form of connection for joining the opposite sides of a sectional plas tic or other form of culvert or-drain', whereby said sections will be securely held their connected or joined relation andwill be held against any attempt a-t latera-l movement with-relation toeach other, such as would tend to detract from the practicability and objects sought tobe accomplished by the culvert.

It is also an object of'my invention to pro vide a connection of the character mentioned which is soformed as will permit o'E ready and quick engagement as between the several parts thereof, in order that the sections of a culvert or a drain to bejoined therebymay be as quickly connected.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out'hereinafter:

In the drawings: 3

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a section of a culvert provided with my improved connection; i

Figure 2 is a similar view of the opposite section of the culvert;

Figure 3 is a vertical fragmentary section in detail through portions ofthe culvert sections showing the inter-engaged elements of the connection; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of the improved connection.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corrcsponding parts throughout, my lnvention may be applied to that type of sectional culvert or drain as shown in the Figures 1 and 2, whose sections are designated by the numorals 1 and 2 and are semi-circular in shape. These sections, obviously, when arranged in adjacent relation, will provide the usual form otdrain, and to render fluid-type connection between these two sections, I preferably form longitudinally extending tongues on the lower the section 1, and indicated at 3, these tongues being adapted to be receivedin correspondingly disposed grooves 4 formed in the adjacent portions of the section 2, thus affording I an inter engagin'g connection as between said portions of As means for efiectually connecting the sectio-ns'l and 2 of the culvert, I'arrange in equidistantrelation in thejgrooves 4 formed in these portions of the section 2 adjacent the tongues 3 ofth'e sections 1, a plurality of upstanding eyelets 5, which, as will be noted, are provided with shank portions which are embeddedin the plastic composition o'f'the section 2.

Engaged in the free portions of the section 1 adjacent to'the tongues 3 formed thereon and-arranged to correspond to the positioning o'f'th'e eyeletfi, area plurality of engaging members, which I shallVdesig-i These engaging hate by the numeral 6,. members are providedivitli shank portions which are embedded in the plastic composi-' tion of which the section? is formed, and have their free portions bent late"ally in substantially elbow like or U-shaped fashion, thus providing engaged portions operable with the hooks such as designated by the numeral 7. The free ends of thesehoo'k portions 7 are bent downwardly at substantially right angles in proximity to the point of bending of thehooks from their respective shank portions and, as willbe appreciated, aflord, in this way, a positive and dependable iorm of connection or engaging means. which, when the upperor free portions thereof are passed through the corresponding eyelets 5 of the section 1 of the culvert, willafiord means for engaging said sectionl with the section 2, and in addition to serving as means for preventing relative vertical movement between-these two sections, will also prevent material lateral movement as between the two sections 1 and 2. Thelatter is accomplished by the pivoting of the inwardly swinging lip or stop 8 on the free end of each of the hook por tions 7, which lips, as hereinbefore stated, have their free ends normally abutting or engaging to the opposite side of the U- shaped hook portion in proximity to the point of. bending of the portions 7 from the marginal portions of the-sections l and 2.

shanks of the hooks whereby to prevent out-' ward swinging movement of the same. It of course will be understood that the lips 8 are of such width as will permit their passage through the openings in the eyelets 5. Thus, when the pivoted lips 8 are passed through their respective eyelets 5, the lower or free portions thereof. will swing downwardly into engagement with the lower side of the substantially U-shaped hooked portions 7 as clearly shown in the Figure 4, and by consequence, lateral disengagement of said hooked portions from their respective, eyelets 5 will be prevented, since, as above stated, the pivoted lips 8 are only permitted inwardly swinging movement and any attempt at outwardly swinging movement of the same will be prevented'by reason of their engagement with the lower side of the Ushaped hooked portion 7 From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided a simple but effectual form oi: connection for sections of culverts such as I have herein described, and further, that with the use of any improved form of connection upon culverts of this des sign ortype, the sectionsthereof will L be prevented from having any. detrimental movement with relation to each other such as might detract from the practicability of. the same orprevent full accomplishment ot' the objects sought to be arrived at therebys n r 1 Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable, modification, and

- such modification as is within the scopeor my claims I consider within the spiritio't my invention.

' I claim;

1. A connection of the comprising a receiving member, and an engaging member adapted for connection with said receiving member having one portion thereof bent laterally into substantially U-shaped fashion and the free end thereof provided with a downwardly disposed lip, the end of which approaches that portion. of the engaging member adjacent the point of bending of the laterally U-shaped por-v tion therefrom.

2. A connection of the character described comprising a receiving member, and an engaging member adapted for connection with said receiving member consisting of a single piece of material having a shank por character described tion and a laterally disposed U-shaped up per portion, and a downwardly disposed lip having its free end normall arranged in proximity to the point of hen ing of said lateral portion from the shank.

3. A connection of the character described comprising an eyelet, an engaging member adapted for engagement through said eyelet and consisting of a shan and a laterally opening hook on the upper portion of said havingithe upper side thereof curved upon itself; and a downwardlydisposedlip pivoted to. the free end of said hooked portion, the

end of which engages the lower: .portion'iot I the hook portion, said lip beingot a width corresponding to the opening Off, Slaidxeyc let.-

3A connection of the characterdescribed comprising an eyelet, an engaging member adapted for connection with said eyelet consisting of a shank portion and" a laterally opening hook on the upper portion of said shank, and inwardlyswinging means arranged on the free end of the'hook adapted to permit engagement ofthe upper side of said hook through the eyelet but to prevent disengagement thereof with said eyelet when moved in an opposite direction.

6. Aconnection of the character described comprising an eyelet, anjengaging member adapted for connectionwith said eyelet con sisting of a single piece of material having a shank portion and a laterally disposed U-shaped upper portion, a downwardly swinging lip pivoted tothe upper side of said U-shaped portion, said lip being of a width to permit its passage through the eye let, but of a length to'ab'ut against the lower side of the U-shaped portion whereby to prevent outward swinging movement of the same subsequent toengagemcnt of the hook through the eyelet.

In testimony whereof I ailin my signature.

HARRY K. swnnnv. 

